Dispensing apparatus



March 18, 194?.

R. G. BIRR DISPENSING APPARATUS original Filed July 14, 1944 5Sheets-Sheet 1 March 18, w47.

R. G. BIRR DIsPENsING APPARATUS 5 sheets-sheet 2- original Fiied July14, 1944 l um W Am".

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DISPENSING APPARATUSl original Filed July 14, 19421y March 18, 1947.

5 iSheets--Shee'l 5 arch i8, 1947. R. G. ,BIRR

DISPENS ING APPARATUS Original Filed July 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Mar. 18, 1947 Mgt l 2,417,731- nisransmo firmamos Rudolph@Birr, Lombard, lill., assignor to Steiner Sales Company, Salt Lake City,Utah, a corporation of Utah @riginal application duly 14, 1944, SerialNo. 54l4,99. Divided and this application June 20, 1945, Serial No.600,624

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in di'spensing apparatus and isdivisional of my copending application Serial No. 544,919, led July 14,19ste. for Dispensing apparatus. Although the same title has been usedfor this aDDlCatiOn as for the parent copending application, the presentapplication is directed particularly to improvements in the stopmechanism.

Heretoiore it has been the practice to use a part of a reciprocal timerslide as a stop, and such a use is shown in Grunwald Patent No.2,998,882. It has also been the prior practice to use a leverlike stopwhich in turn operated a sliding element of a timer. Such a scheme is'shown in Birr Patent No. 2,193,759. Both of these schemes haveobjections. In the rst mentioned scheme the slide and its guides are'submitted to violent impacts when one stop engages the slide. On theother hand the timer shown in Birr requires the timer slide to be passedthrough a slot in a plate which supports the mechanism and requires theslide to extend in a direction which is parallel with the rotative axisof the measuring roll. This scheme is objectionable because of thetendency of the slide to tip and bind in the slot. This binding tendencywas overcome in the Grunwald Patent but in that patent the slide wasused as a stop, with the objection previously noted.

The present construction provides a timer mechanism in which the timerslide is not submitted to stop impacts, and in which the slide does n-otpass through a slot in one of two plates, on which all of the mechanismis supported.

Among the objects herein are: to provide an improved stop mechanismcontrolled by and controlling a measuring roll or equivalent means bywhich sheet material is dispensed; to provide a stop mechanism which canbe connected to or disconnected from a timer, to permit of changeover orconversion from one type of control to another; to use a stop as anintermediate linkage element for connection of a stop mechanism with atimer so that as the stop moves to stop position the timer is set; touse a lspring on each stop, one on a iirst stop to hold it against asecond stop, and one on the second stop to move it away from the forststop; to have a spring act on a first gear to drive a second gear tomove the measuring or feed roll in dispensing direction; to arrange thestopping surfaces of the stops in amore advantageous relation to oneanother and to the stop-separating springs; to obtain camming action ofone stop to facilitate release of the other stop to provide a mountingfor the gear which has the stop such as will better withstand the shockof impact of the stops; and to provide a dial and ratchet mechanism bywhich the stop can be set against the action of a spring which isadapted to automatically move one of the gears to dispense sheetmaterial on release of the stop. Features of the invention include alldetails of construction related to the stop mechanism, and to themounting of its gears.

Objects, features and advantages of the invention will be set kforth inthe description of the drawings forming a part of this disclosure, andin Said drawings- Fig. l is a side elevation of the cabinet with partsbroken away to show the feeding dial, and showing in dotted lines theposition of the cover during servicing;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the cabinet;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken between the supporting plates andshowing part of the bearing structure for the stop-carrying gear andshowing the relation of the feed rolls to the tearoff knife andlpaper-spacing apron;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the cabinet looking atthe outer face of one of the supporting plates and showing the time-stopmechanismwith the parts in their normal o-r released position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts instopping-position as during the timing period; and

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section taken on line (5-6 of Fig. 4showing how the bearings for the gearsand one end of the measuring rollare mounted for ease of assembly and strength.

The cabinet is composed of an inner section or body and an outer sectionor cover. The inner section is formed from a single sheet of metal bentto provide the vertical back I and the horizontal bottom 2. Secured toand stiffening the back and the bottom and in. turn reenforced therebyare two mechanism-supporting plates 3 ands by which substantially all ofthe mechanism of the cabinet is carried. Each of these plates isprovided with three stiiiening flanges respectively designated 5, 6 andl. The flanges 5 and 6 are connected by screws to the back and thebottom, and the plates with their flanges thus stfen the structure.

In eachy supporting plate is a downwardly'extending slot it made widerat the top as at Il. These slots intersect the top anges l as best shownat l2 in Fig.y 3. By enlarging the vertical slots lll at their upperopen ends the trunnions I4 of the supply roll-supporting bar I5 areeasily introduced into the slots.

A one-piece cover` l1 provides the top, front and sides of the cabinet,and this cover is pivoted at its lower edge about midway between frontand back (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) to brackets or plates I8 secured to thetop faces of the bottom flanges 6 of the plates 3 and 4. These bracketsextend outwardly beyond the flanges 6 and have vertical flanges I9having openings which receive the pivots 20 of the cover.

A suitable key-operated lock is provided for the cover. Suitable slots(not shown) are provided in the back l by which to hang the cabinet onthe wall. The cover can be moved downwardly to a position shown indotted lines in Fig, 1 to act as a support for the supply roll 25 whilethe paper is being threaded between the feeding rolls, see Fig. 3.

The supporting plates 3 and 4 are cross-connected at the front by astiifening bar 26. Below this bar are the feed rolls. One of these rollsis a measuring roll 29. A presser roll 30 lies above the measuring rolland is yieldably pressed thereagainst by springs 3 l. This presser roll30 is reduced in diameter as in 33 to facilitate action of lingersplaced in this reduced portion, the preliminary introduction of paperforwardly between the rolls while the supply roll 25 is being supportedby the cover Il when in the dotted-line position of Fig. 1. Themeasuring roll is grooved as at 35 to receive lingers 36 which areintegral with an upturned portion 34 with the bottom 2 of the innerunit.

Depending from and swingable about the ends 3l of the shaft of thepresser` roll is an apron 4B which normally lies in a position of Fig. 3to hold the paper 4l spaced rearwardly of a tearoif knife on the bottomof the cover to facilitate introduction of the fingers for grasping ofthe paper to pull it out and tear it off against the lower edge of theforwardly, downwardly slanted portion 44 of the bottom of the front wall45 of the cover l1. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the knifeedge is curved.

Another feature of the invention (see Figs. 1 and 2) is the use of anemergency dial 5D having fingers l which are adapted to projectforwardly through a slot 52 of the cover I1' as shown in Fig. 1. Ibelieve it is entirely new to use a dial in the type of cabinet in whichpaper is automatically fed out as soon as the stop is released by thetimer. The purpose of the dial is to permit manual operation topreliminarily feedV the paper to the position of Fig. 3, at whichposition it can be grasped by the user. Ordinarily, this dial or disk 50is only used prelirninarily` to condition the cabinet for its first use.It may be considered as an emergency feeding means. The disk is attachedto the shaft 53 of the measuring roll 29, or to a trunnion of that roll.

Another feature of the invention is the arrangement on this shaft 53 andbetween the dial 50 and the outer surface of the supporting plate 4, ofa relatively ne-toothed ratchet wheel 55. This wheel is held againstmotion in one direction by a pawl 55 suitably pivoted to plate 4. Thisfine-toothed pawl-controlled wheel 55 facilitates dial-feeding actionagainst the force of certain springs later described, and including aspring which causes automatic feeding after the time stop is released atthe end of the time period. It will be understood that this dialfeed-out action is opposed to spring power during setting of the timestop, and that the setting of the time stop is o stop mechanism used,one of the gears has a spring which acts automatically on that gear tocause an automatic feed-out of the paper when the time stop isautomatically released at the end of the timing period. These gears andtheir related elements are mounted on the supporting plate 3 of theinner unit.

The shaft 53 of the measuring roll passes out wardly through astruck-cut bearing 5l' of the plate 3 and the outer end of the shaft isreduced in diameter to receive a small spur gear 58 and to provide ashoulder against which this small gear is forced and secured as bypeening over. This reduced portion 59 may be squared. A large gear 6i)meshes with the small gear and carries the stop 5I secured by screws 52to the gear 5e. The gear G9 is attached to a reduced and squared portion63 of a long shaft 64, which has one end rotative in o, punched-outbearing S5 of the plate 3. The other end 56 is reduced and is rotativein a remotely placed bearing opening ina U shaped strap-like bracket Sl.Exten sions 68 of the bracket are connected to the inner face of plate 3as by screws 59. The gear El! and its stop 6I are releasably held to theshaft f by means of a suitable screw T, the head of which lies in anopening of the stop GI. The shaft 54 is held against axial translationby means of a split key il, engaging a washer interposed between the endof the bracket 61 and the key. A rugged bearing is thus provided.

Assembly of the stop mechanism, including these gears, is alsofacilitated by the structure described. The shaft 64 can be simplyinserted into its bearings, and the large gear 5d with its stop 6l thenbe placed on the reduced portion and in mesh with gear 58, and the screw'Hl applied. As to the small gear, it can be placed on its squaredportion and secured by peening either before or after the large gear isapplied. Preferably, the stop 6i of the large gear is attached to thegear before the gear itself is secured to its shaft.

The stop 6i or the gear 60 carries a pin 'i4 which passes (see Figs. 4and 5) through a slot of a timer-setting link l5. A clip, to which oneend of the automatic feed-out spring 1l, is attached is releasablyhooked over pin i4, a washer T8 being inserted between this clip and thelink 18.

The slanting stopping surface 'IS of stop 6l is engageable with aslanting stopping shoulder oi' surface 8G (see Fig. 5) to limit themotion of the dispensing roll 29. The surface 75 is adapted to have acamming action on surface 80. The stop shoulder 8i]- is formed on aswingable stop arm or lever 8l pivoted as at 82 to a punchedoutprojection of the plate 3, which projection spacesrthe inner surface ofthe lever from the face of the plate. The stop arm may have the form ofa lever as shown, to provide part of a brake-operating means such as isdisclosed in the parent copending application. It is a feature hereinthat stop di may be a lever of the first class, and that thebrake'mechanism maybe applied later.

A detachable pivot 53 on stop arm si, passes through one end of theslotted link 'iii and through a second short link all. The link 84 ispivoted as at 85'to a slide plate 85 of a timer mechanism. rhis plate 86is cut out centrally as at Sl and has at its'top-an inwardly extendingslot A guide screw impasses through the slot 8B as shown. A bracket teengages the'sidesof the opening t? and forms a second guide for theslide 85. The-slide is held against movement away from the face oi theplate 3 by means oi vertical surfaces of a horizontal shelf 9| which isor greater width than the Width oi the opening 8?. On the shelf ismounted avacuum cup $12, the entry of air into which is controlledthrough an opening controlled by a needle valve which can be adjusted bythe ringer piece Q5. Cooperative with the cup Q72 is a second cup 96carried by horizontal bracket Sl of the slide 85. A spring t8connects'vat one end with the stop Si and the other end-is rsecured tothe plate 3 as shown. rihis spring 9S assists in moving the parts to theposition shown in 4 following the release of the stops, as will be morefully explained. The use of the elements Si, i@ and s. all connected bya common pivot 33, is a valuable feature in permitting the stop to beused without a timer, or in permitting the use of the stop and timerwithout the use of the brake, and thus permitting a chan ge-over fromone type of cabinet to another.

Although this application is not concerned with the operation of a brakefor the supply roll, yet I have shown how the stop 8l can be co nectedto a link Hl which is in turn connected to a camming lever H5 foroperating a suitable brake.

The connection of the three ele-ments 16, 8i and 8a by a common pivot 33in the manner shown has the advantage that the stop mechanism can beused with or without the timer, and yet a change-over can easily be madeto add or take oh a timer. Where the timer is not used, then the springwhich acts to move the gear automatically when the time stop is releasedis, of course, not used. Nevertheless, even without the use of thisspring the link connection of the gear or stop to the stop arm Ei is avaiuable construction. if the slotted link and the lever t! only arebeing used and it is desired to add the timer, this can easily be doneby attaching the timerto the plate 3 and then operatively connecting itby short link 8G to the common pivot 85.

It will be notedby reference to Fig. 5 that the stopping surfaces 'i9and iii? are so related to the direction of application of force by thespring 71 and to the pivotal aXis of the gear ii!) that the spring cancause the stopping surface 'i9 to perform a camming action against thestopping surface Sii, to move the stop 8l away from the stop 6i when thetimer ceases to hold the second stop, and it will be further noted thatthe second stop has a spring 98 which assists the camming action in theseparation of the stops.

it will be further noted that where the spring Ti is used, its force isadded to that applied by the user as he pulls out the paper, so that thebearings of the gear 6U arel submitted to more than the usual straindueto impact of the stops. Thus, the bearings are under Lmusual strain.To this end the gear, is to the outer end of a relatively long shaft 64,and the outer portion of which shaft is rotatably supported-in a bearing65 of the plate 3 and the inner end of which shaft is remotely supportedin a bearing formed by the strap ti.

Operation The dispensing operation is as follows: iirst referring toFig. 4 which shows the mechanism with thepaper @i ready to be grasped bythe user and pulled out. When the user pulls on the paper the measuringroll andits gear 58 are moved in clockwise direction, the large gear 6i).and its stop 6l are moved in counter-clockwise direction, the pin i4acting on the link 'i6 pulls the 'stop shoulder 80 into the path of stop6i, and as this motion continues the stops assume the stopping positionshown. During this act of dispensing the link 84 moves the lslide iiiidownwardly and the cup 9B becomes vacuum-attached to the cup 92 as shownin Fig. 5 and timing begins. If a brake is used, motion of the stop arm8l to stopping position moves the link H1 to correspondingly move thelever H5. At the same time the spring 'H (see Fig. 4) is put undertensionl with the pin i6 in the position shown. On release of the 'stopsEil and 8B by the timer, spring 'i'i acts to move the gear te inanticlookwise direction to automatically eject a short length of thetoweling to a position to be grasped by the same or to a subsequentuser.

It is also against the action of this spring 'il' that the force appliedto the dial 5% must act. The pawl 56 holds the dial against the reverseaction of this spring during a portion of dispensing action. In fact,the force applied to the dial at rst acts against both springs 'il and98, but only against spring 'il until the pin 'It arrives at a positionsubstantially diametrically opposite tothe position in which it is shownin Fig. 4. After the pin has reached an over-thecenter diametricposition, the spring Tl acts on it to automatically force the stop Siagainst the stop Si, which stop 8l has by this time been 45 lowered intothe path of the stop tl. Therefore, for this portion of the feedingcycle, the

dial is not needed.

What I claim is: l. A device of the class described, having a 50 feedroll having a first gear, a second gear meshing with the first gear andhaving a rst stop,

a second stop adapted to move into the path of the first stop, a springacting on the second gear in a direction to hold the first stop againstthe 55 second stop and in a manner to move the second gear to obtainautomatic feeding action of the feed roll after the stops are released.

2. A device of the class described, having a feed roll having a firstgear, a second gear meshing with the rst gear and having a iirst stop,

a second stop adapted'to move into the path of the first stop, a timerfor holding the second stop in engagement with the first stop, a

spring acting on the second gear in a direction 65 to hold the firststop against the second stop,

the stopping surfaces of the stops being so related to the direction ofspring action that the spring causes the stopping surface of the firststop to perform a camming action on the stopping sur- ?o face of thesecond stop which tends to move the second stop away from the firststop, when v the timer ceases tol-hold the second stop.

3. A device of the ciass described, having a feed roll having a rstgear, a second gear meshing To with the first gear and having a rststop, a

second stop adapted to move into the path 'of the iirst stop, a timerfor holding the second stop in engagement with the rst stop, a springacting on the second gear in a direction to hold the rst stop againstthe second stop, the stopping surfaces of the stops being so related tothe direction of spring action that the spring causes the stoppingsurface of the rst stop to perform a camming action on the stoppingsurface of the second stop which tends to movethe second stop away fromthe first stop when the timer ceases to hold the second stop, saidsecond stop having a spring which assists the camming action in theseparation of the stops.

4. A device of the class described, having a feed roll rotatable betweenand having bearing in a pair of upright plates, said feed roll having arlrst gear, a second gear meshing with the first Agear and having a rststop, a second stop adapted to move into the path of the rst stop, aspring acting on the second gear in a direction to hold the rst stopagainst the second stop and in a manner to move the second gear when thestops are released, the said second gear being attached to the outer endof a relatively long shaft the outer portion of which is rotatablysupported in one of the upright plates and the inner end of which isremotely supported in a strap which is detachably secured to'the innersurface of the same plate.

5. A device of the class described, having a feed roll rotatable betweenand having bearing in a pair of upright plates, a stop mechanism forsaid feed roll having a rst gear connected to the feed roll at a pointoutside of one of the upright plates, a second gear meshing with thefirst gear and having a rlrst stop adapted to violently engage a secondstop which is adapted to move into its path, the second gear beingattached to the outer end of a relatively long shaft, the outer portionof said shaft being rotatably supported in one of the upright plates,and the inner end of said shaft being remotely rotatably supported in ametal strap which is rigidly secured to the inner surface of the saidupright plate, whereby the bearing points or the shaft are Widelyseparated to better withstand the strains of violent impact of the firststop with the second.

6. A device for dispensing sheet material comprising, a measuring roll,a time-stop mechanism controlled by and controlling the measuring rolland including a spur gear driven by a gear on the measuring roll, atimer adapted to be set and thereafter be automatically released at theend of a time period, and a spring connected to said driven spur gearand adapted to be put under tension as the measuring roll is moved inmeasuring direction and as the time-,stop mechanism is set, the partsbeing so related that the spring is under tension when the stop is instopping position and is adapted thereafter to act on the gear when thestop is released to move said gear in a direction which will operate themeasuring roll to feed a short length of paper to a position accessibleto the user.

7. A device of the class described comprising, a dispensing roll, a stopmechanism and means by which it controls and is controlled by thedispensing roll, including a, spring which is conditioned duringdispensing action to thereafter automatically move the roll indispensing direction after the stop Vmechanism is released, a fingerdial adapted for turning the roll to put said spring under tension, aratchet Wheel rotatable With said dial, and a paw] adapted to hold theratchet wheel against reverse rotation as the dial is operated againstthe action of said spring.

8. A device of the class described comprising, a dispensing roll, a stopmechanism and means by which it controls and is controlled by thedispensing roll, including a spring which is conditioned duringdispensing action to thereafter automatically move the roll indispensing direction after the stop mechanism is released, a inger dialadapted for turning the roll to put said spring under tension, a ratchetWheel rotatable with said dial, and a pawl adapted to hold the ratchetwheel against reverse rotation as the dial is operated against theaction of said spring, said spring being attached to a spur gear whichmeshes with a spur gear rotatable with said roll.

9. A device of the class described, having a measuring roll, a iirstspur gear operated by the measuring roll, a second spur gear driven bythe first spur gear, a stop mechanism having a stop on said second gear,a second stop movable into the path of the rst stop, a timer, means bywhich the second gear operated the second stop and the timer, includinga link pivoted to a part of the timer, a, link pivoted to the secondgear, and a pivot connecting said links to said second stop, and aspring acting on the said second gear, the parts being so related thatthe spring is under tension when the stops are in stopping position andis adapted to act on the second gear when the stop is released to movesaid gear in a direction which will operate the measuring roll to feed ashort length of paper to a position accessible to the user.

10. A device for dispensing sheet material comprising, a measuring roll,first and second meshing gears, the first attached to the roll and thesecond having a first stop, a second stop engageable by the first stop,means for automatically moving the second stop away from the rst stop, atimer, means operable by the second gear for moving the second stop intothe path of the first stop and simultaneously setting the timer` thetimer being adapted thereafter to prevent separation of the stops untilthe end of the time period, said means including a pin movable with thesecond gear, and means acting on the pin to automatically move thesecond gear after the stops are released and in a direction which willoperate the measuring roll to feed a length of material to a positionaccessible to the user.

11. A device for dispensing sheet material, comprising a measuring roll,a iinger dial for operating the measuring roll, `a time-stop mechanismcontrolled by and controlling the measuring roll and including a spurgear as an intermediate between the measuring roll and the time-stopmechanism adapted to be set and thereafter be automatically released atthe end of a time period, and a spring connected to the gear and adaptedto be put under tension as the measuring roll is moved by the dial inmeasuring direction and as the time-stop mechanism is set, the partsbeing so related that the spring is under tension When the stop is instopping position and is adapted to act on the gear when the stop isreleased to move said gear in a direction which Will operate themeasuring roll to feed the paper to a position accessible to the user.

12. A device of the class described, comprising dispensing rolls, amechanism for automatically operating said rolls to dispense sheetmaterial, means by which the rolls operate said mechanism to set it forautomatic action, including a spring which is conditioned duringdispensing action to thereafter automatically move the rolls, a ngerdial for turning the rolls and adapted tc set the ej-ecting mechanismagainst the action of said spring, a ratchet wheel rotatable with saiddial, and a pawl adapted to hold the wheel against reverse rotation asthedial is operated against the action of said spring to set saidejecting mechanismf or automatic release.

13. A dispensing cabinet comprising, rst and second upright plates, ameasuring roll journaled in both plates, a shaft between the plates andparallel with and close to the measuring roll and having its outer endjournaled in the rst plate, a bracket having two arms, one of which isclose to the measuring roll and both of which are close to and parallelwith thel shaft, the said arms being connected by a bearing element inwhich the opposite end of the shaft is journaled, each arm havingterminal lateral extensions by which it is secured to the inner side ofsaid first plate, the outer end of said shaft having a shoulder at theouter side of the rst plate, a rst gear nonrotatably held on the shaft,a stop plate secured to the gear and having an opening, a screw passingthrough the opening and securing the gear against axial motion away fromthe shaft, a second gear movable with the measuring roll and meshingwith the rst gear, and a spring secured to the stop plate for moving itforcibly toward a second stop.

14. A dispensing cabinet comprising, a pair of upright plates, ameasuring roll journaled in the plates, a shaft parallel with and closeto the measuring roll and having one end journaled in one of the plates,a bracket in which the opposite end of said shaft is journaled, saidbracket having two long arms, one of which is clo-se to the measuringroll and both of which are close to and parallel with the shaft, thesaid arms being connected by a bearing element in which the opposite endof the shaft is rotatable, each arm having terminal lateral extensionsby which the bracket is secured to the inner side of said plate, theouter end of the shaft projecting to the outer side of the plate andhaving ashoulder, a rst gear on the shaft engaging the shoulder, a stopplate secured to the gear and having an open- Number ing, a screwpassing through the opening and engaged with the end of the shaft andsecuring the' gear against axial motion away from the shaft, a gearmovable with the measuring roll and meshing with the rst gear, and aspring secured to the stop plate for moving it forcibly against a secondand rst and second pivots connecting it respectively to said slide andsaid second stop, means pivoted on the second pivot and operable bymeans on the rststop to move the second stop into the path of the firststop during rotation of the measuring roll, timer means on the slide andon one of the guides of the slide adapted to be engaged to preventrelease of the stops until the end of a time period, and a spring actingon the second stop to move it and said slide from stopping position.

16. In combination, a measuring roll, a stop mechanism comprising firstand second stops, a pivot member for the second stop, means by which thefirst stop moves the second stop into the rotative path of the firststop and then releases the second stop for independent movement out ofthe rotative path of the rst stop, including a link connected to saidpivot member, a timing mechanism, and a link connected with said pivotmember and with said timing mechanism for operating said timingmechanism in relation to the stops.

RUDOLPH G. BIRR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,367,202 Cooper Jan. 16, 1945 2,298,179Steiner et a1 Oct. 6, 1942

